Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ — If you missed the April exhibit on Guillermo Thorn and his wanderings through what would become the Watchung Reservation, you have another chance to view some of the photographs taken by this 19^th Century photographer this Saturday.

As part of the National Trails Day celebration at Trailside Nature & Science Center, local historian Richard Palmatier will be exhibiting some of  Thorn’s works and discussing the Plainfield photographer’s explorations that ultimately documented the mills that once lined the Blue and Green Brooks on the border of Union and Somerset Counties.

“This exhibit explores a time in history that is almost unknown,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “For over a century, these brooks provided the power to drive these mills, creating everything from lumber to gunpowder.  And it’s also fascinating to see Thorn’s photographs, which really mark the beginnings of photography itself.”

The Thorn exhibit and presentation is just part of the festivities planned for National Trails Day this Saturday, with special programs throughout the day for all ages. The event is free, and ample free parking is available.

At 2 p.m. guest speaker Don Weise will speak about the Best Hiking Trails in New Jersey.  The talk will cover health and fitness on the trail, hiking with families and wildlife awareness. Weise is the Director of Development and Membership with the NY-NJ Trail Conference.  In addition to having led close to 1,000 hikes since the 1990’s, he is an environmental advocate and author.   His latest hiking books will be available for purchase and signing.   

Free themed hikes for families will take place throughout the afternoon.  At 11:30 a.m. join Pete Axelrod, Educational Outreach Coordinator, from Wild Birds Unlimited in Scotch Plains.   The Watchung Reservation has several different habitats including woodlands, lakes, streams, wetlands, and meadows which make it an ideal area for birding.  Remember to bring binoculars if you have them or borrow a pair from Trailside as you learn how to identify common birds by sight and sound.

Visitors can join a Trailside Naturalist on the Sensory Trail at 12:30 p.m. for a “Sensory Hike.”  This hike introduces families with young children to the wonders of the outdoors and wildlife. Attendees will use their senses to observe the natural world. Smell sweet flowers, onion grass and mugwort and listen for animal sounds.  Feel nature’s textiles.  Learn how to identify poison ivy before it’s too late.  Learn how to stay safe on the trail while looking for signs of local wildlife, checking out their homes and hideouts. 

At 3:00 p.m. the “Stream Hike” offers participants a hike down to the Blue Brook to look for crayfish, salamanders, and aquatic insects.  Hikers will carefully collect, identify, and release these tiny creatures. It is advised to wear shoes that can get wet. 

Ongoing activities will continue throughout the day from 12 to 4 p.m. Participate in nature-inspired crafts located under the gazebo on the sensory trail. Join in the ongoing geocaching hikes which is now the rage with day hikers. With the help of the Northern New Jersey Cachers, a non-profit geocaching organization, work as a team to find geocaches around the reservation.  Throughout the day there will be opportunities to learn how to safely view the sun, with presentations by Amateur Astronomers, Inc. a member of the Miller Sperry Observatory in Cranford.

Reproductions of Thorn’s work will be on display in the Trailside atrium, with Palmatier explaining Thorn’s adventures through the area and the photographs he left behind, including a series of stereographs, the precursors to what would lead to Viewmasters and today’s virtual reality headsets.

Thorn was born in 1837, two years before the invention of the photograph. He would grow up to see photography infiltrate every aspect of 19th-century life. 

Thorn gave up a brief career as a drawing and painting teacher and opened his first studio in Saugerties, NY, before moving to Plainfield in 1864. 

While he quickly established himself as a professional photographer, taking portraits and scenics of the area, his personal life was marred by tragedy. By 1870, disease claimed the lives of his wife, Alice, and their five children. He eventually remarried, with his later children becoming muses for his pictorial work.  

As part of Palmatier’s presentations on Sunday, he will share old photographs of the foundations of long forgotten mills along the Green and Blue Brooks. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, these waterways were the industrial hub for this area, producing everything from lumber to paper to gunpowder, grist, material for hats and crushed stone. There were upwards of 12 mills along these two brooks. In some spots, you can still see remnants of the dams, sluices, and spillways that provided the water power to drive the machinery. 

With miles of trails, Union County’s hiking, bridle, and multi-use trails need the valued help of dedicated trail volunteers. Interested volunteers are needed for the Trail Maintenance portion of the National Trails Day. Included will be a free continental breakfast for all pre-registered trail work participants.  No experience is necessary and jobs are open to volunteers ages 12 years and up (children must be accompanied by an adult).  Projects may include working to reroute a trail, pruning vegetation growing into the trail bed and more. Volunteers should wear long pants and long sleeved shirts and sturdy shoes or hiking boots. Hats and a backpack for a re-usable water bottle are advisable. Preregistration is required by contacting trailside@ucnj.org. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. and trail work goes from 9 to 11:15 a.m.

For more information about National Trails Day or other activities at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. The facility is open 7 days a week from 12 to 5 p.m. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. 

Visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation or call 908-527-4900 for information about all Union County parks and recreation facilities.

Quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities are available at The Green Connection, https://ucnj.org/green-connection.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Please refer to www.ucnj.org/recycling for 2020 event info and dates. 

Press release removed to prevent confusion with updated information.

Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholders Sergio Granados and Angel G. Estrada and Union County Surrogate James LaCorte joined Pedro Monteiro, Consul-General of Portugal in Newark, and Portuguese American Leadership Council of the United States (PALCUS) Vice Chair Katherine Soares at the first annual Union County Portuguese flag raising ceremony in commemoration of the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Communities. The Portuguese-American Community will be celebrating what has come to be known as “Portugal Day” throughout the month of June with various celebrations in several municipalities. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Union County residents seeking reliable information about services for adults age 60 and older can come to convenient locations throughout the County and speak in person with experienced staff from the Union County Aging and Disability Resource Connection, a division of the Department of Human Services.

The community visits are scheduled every month through Union County’s ASK (Aging Services Kiosk) program. In June, the ASK program will come to public libraries in Westfield, Plainfield, Clark, Garwood, Elizabeth and Union, and to the Rahway Senior Center.

“Our goal is to help senior residents access the resources they need to stay connected with their communities,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The ASK program helps seniors, their families, and their caregivers get expert guidance in person, in a comfortable setting close to home.”

Guidance offered through the ASK program includes home delivered meals, respite care, home care, adult day care, and support services for caregivers.

Assistance with completing applications and forms is also provided.

All Union County residents are welcome to attend any ASK event. Please note that due to a staff vacancy, bilingual assistance at the ASK events is temporarily unavailable. The dates and locations for June are:

 Monday, June 3

Westfield Memorial Library

550 E. Broad Street

Westfield, 07090

10:00 – 12:00

 

Thursday, June 13

Rahway Senior Center

1306 Esterbrook Avenue

Rahway, 07065

10:00 – 12:00

 

Friday, June 14

Plainfield Public Library

800 Park Avenue

Plainfield, 07060

10:00 – 12:00

 

Monday, June 17

Clark Public Library

303 Westfield Avenue

Clark, 07066

10:00 – 12:00

 

Thursday, June 20

Garwood Public Library

411 Third Avenue

Garwood, 07027

10:00 – 12:00

 

Tuesday, June 25

Union Public Library

1980 Morris Avenue

Union, 07083

11:30 – 1:30

 

Friday, June 28

Elizabeth Public Library – Elmora Branch

740 W. Grand Street

Elizabeth, 07202

10:00 – 12:00

 

The Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection is modeled on a national initiative aimed at promoting wellness, independence, dignity and choice. In addition to ASK and other outreach events, printed information is available in English and Spanish.

For more information about the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection, visit the Department of Human Services online at ucnj.org/departments/human-services or call 888-280-8226 (toll free), 908-527-4870, or 908-527-4858. Spanish speakers may call 908-527-4863. 

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in partnership with the Union County chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America invites residents to join a rally and march in observance of Gun Violence Awareness Day on Saturday, June 8 at Nomahegan Park, 1107 Springfield Avenue in Cranford, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

“The County of Union supports the fight against senseless gun violence in our communities and we will do whatever is necessary to make sure that our community is safe for our children and all residents,” said Freeholder chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “We are proud to partner with Moms Demand Action and fight for common sense gun reforms.”

The June 8 event will begin at 9:00 a.m. with a rally featuring faith leaders, victims of gun violence, and local officials, followed by a march to honor the lives lost due to gun violence.

Attendees are asked to show their support by wearing the color orange.

Just one week after performing at President Obama’s second inaugural parade in 2013, Hadiya Pendleton was shot and killed in Chicago at the age of 15. Orange is the color that friends wore in her honor. After her death, her loved ones asked Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America to stand up, speak out, and wear orange to raise awareness about gun violence.

Orange has been the color of the gun violence prevention movement ever since. The color orange honors the more than 100 lives cut short and the hundreds more wounded by gun violence every day.

Moms Demand Action was founded by stay-at-home mom, Shannon Watts, on December 15, 2012, in response to the devastating shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The organization quickly flourished into a leading force for gun violence prevention, with chapters in all 50 states and a powerful grassroots network of concerned citizens that has successfully effected change at the local, state and national level.

In 2018, mayors from 14 Union County municipalities in signed a Statement of Principals against illegal guns at an event in Rahway co-sponsored by the Freeholder Board and Moms Demand Action.

For more information about the national Moms Demand Action organization visit online at momsdemandaction.org. To join the Union County chapter of Moms Demand Action, email pficoucmoms@gmail.com.

National Gun Violence Awareness Day is formally observed on the first Friday in June each year.

For more information about this event contact Nathalie Hernandez, Coordinator, Union County Office of Community Engagement and Diversity at nahernandez@ucnj.org or 908-527-4880.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents to participate in the 2019 “Choose Your Cover” program, a free statewide skin cancer screening, awareness and educational initiative taking place on Saturday, June 29 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Clark Community Pool, 201 Oak Ridge Road in Clark, rain or shine.

The event is open to all, but pre-registration is required to schedule a free skin cancer screening by calling the Union County Office of Health Management at 908-518-5620.

Personnel from the Union County Office of Health Management, Clark Health Department, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center will be on site to provide free skin cancer screenings and help residents learn how to reduce their risk of skin cancer.

“The Freeholder Board is very proud to join with the Chronic Disease Coalition and the Township of Clark to help the public connect with information and resources that can reduce the risk of skin cancer, and lead to early detection,” said Freeholder Chair Kowalski.

Attendees who are pre-registered for a skin cancer screening will receive a special gift bag with skin cancer promotional materials, provided courtesy of the Clark Township Health Department.

Members of the public who are not pre-registered for a screening are also encouraged to come and learn how to keep from being overexposed to the sun.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. People who work or play outdoors, fair skinned people who sunburn easily, and those with a family history of melanoma are at an increased risk.

Overexposure to the sun is one of the most preventable risk factors for melanoma and other types of skin cancer. Common sense precautions include:

• Cover up exposed skin with long sleeve shirts and long pants in tightly woven fabrics.
• Opt for a wide-brimmed hat over a baseball cap for better protection of the head, ears and neck.
• Wear sunglasses with 100 percent UVA and UVB absorption to protect the eyes from sun damage.
• Look for shady areas or avoid the sun, if possible, during the middle of the day when UV rays are the strongest.
• Liberally apply a broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, and reapply frequently.
• Avoid indoor tanning beds, which are proven to increase risk for skin cancer.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in partnership with the Union County Juneteenth Planning Committee is pleased to announce the inaugural Juneteenth Flag raising ceremony on Wednesday, June 19 at 5:00 p.m. in front of the Union County Court house, located at 2 Broad Street, in Elizabeth.

“Juneteenth marks the date when enslaved Africans in America got word about the Emancipation Proclamation,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “In Union County, we are proud to raise the Juneteenth Flag to acknowledge this day in history and honor the long struggle of African-Americans for freedom.”

Juneteenth is recognized as a commemoration of the effective end to slavery in the United States. While President Lincoln delivered his famous Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, many slave owners in Southern states failed to inform their slaves of the landmark decision.

Freeholder Rebecca Williams said: “Juneteenth is a date on which I acknowledge the idea of justice delayed due to the pecuniary interests of slaveholders in the cotton industry in particular. I cannot underscore enough Galveston’s importance as a major port city during the slave trade, as well as Texas as a cotton empire built on the bodies of its enslaved. Juneteenth came about not because it took two months for word to get to Texas about the end of the war, but because the cotton industry needed the bodies of the enslaved blacks to ensure that there would be a crop that year. My father was born and raised in Galveston, and I have dozens of family members who still live there, so I take Juneteenth very personally. Although it has taken far longer for African Americans to be given equal protection under the law, this date marks the beginning of that journey.”

Freeholder Sergio Granados added: “I take great pride in recognizing our diverse cultures within the County and am honored to celebrate the strength of families in the spirit of freedom. “

It took until June 19, 1865 – over two years after Lincoln’s address freeing slaves – for Union soldiers to ride into Galveston, Texas and announce the abolition of slavery there.

Hence, Juneteenth is a celebration of the emancipation of all slaves. Every year around June 19, people participate in parades and cultural events to honor the true end of slavery. On June 22, 2019, the Juneteenth Planning Committee will host their 5^th Annual Juneteenth Freedom Ball at the Renaissance Hotel located in Elizabeth.

For more information, contact Nathalie Hernandez, Coordinator of the Office of Community Engagement & Diversity at nahernandez@ucnj.org or 908-527-4880.

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that a selection of prize-winning art work by Union County employees and their family members is on display through July 9 in the Freeholders Gallery, located on the 6^th floor of the Union County Administration Building, at 10 Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth. The gallery is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays.

The new exhibit presents 16 pieces from among the 149 creations judged at the recent 18^th annual National Arts Program Exhibit and Contest for Union County Employees and Their Families. Current employees, retirees, and their family members were all eligible to submit works.

“Union County employees come from all walks of life, and their artwork reflects the rich pool of creativity, skill, and imagination throughout the Union County community and the surrounding area,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “”We thank the National Arts Program Foundation and Liberty Hall Center in Union Township for giving our local artists the chance to share their own particular — and often very enlightening –view of the world.”

The exhibit and contest is made possible through the National Arts Program Foundation, which provided prize money and support to display the work of artists of all ages, including a reception at Liberty Hall Center in honor of all the artists.

The award-winning artists in the 18^th annual National Arts Program Exhibit and Contest for Union County Employees and Their Families are:

Aberdeen: Korrin Spogantz (Third Place, Youth 12 & Under).  Bayville: Julia Paparella (Second Place, Teen 13-18).  Berkeley Heights: Molly Altman (Second Place, Youth 12 & Under).  Chatham: Carolyn Rehm (Third Place, Intermediate).  Clark: Ryan Frees (Third Place, Amateur); Daniel Wilkinson (Honorable Mention, Professional); Charles, Kenneth and Samuel Wilkinson (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under). Cranford: Jeff Young (Honorable Mention, Intermediate).  Elizabeth: Christopher Paparella (Second Place, Intermediate); Shane Rhodes (First Place, Youth 12 & Under); Cristina Velez (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18); Michelle Velez (Second Place, Amateur).  Fanwood Margaret Southwell (Honorable Mention, Professional). Garwood: Linda Brazaitis (Honorable Mention, Professional); Sergei Kent (Honorable Mention, Amateur); Kelly Sullivan (First Place, Amateur). Jersey City: Hadieh Afshani (Honorable Mention, Professional); Grigory Gurevich (Second Place, Professional). Kenilworth: Maria Anderson (Honorable Mention, Intermediate); Tiffany Broskoskie (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18); Richie Casale (Honorable Mention, Amateur).  Leonardo: Eryn Knapp (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18).  Monroe: Richa Wadhawan (Third Place, Teen 13-18) and Rishabh Wadhawan (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18). Old Bridge: Allana McQueen (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18). Rocky Mount: Ivelisse Inglefield (Art Education Award, Teen, 13-18).  Roselle: Anthony Waldmann (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18); Judith White (First Place, Professional).  Roselle Park: George Kurz (Honorable Mention, Amateur). Scotch Plains: Charles Rubin (Honorable Mention, Intermediate); Manali Shah (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18); Niyati Shah (First Place, Teen 13-18); Eileen Willoughby (First Place, Intermediate). South Orange: Donna Drew (Honorable Mention, Professional). Springfield: Kat Block (Honorable Mention, Professional); Michelle Harpster (Third Place, Professional). Summit: Sam Awad (Honorable Mention, Professional). Union: Melissa Simoes (Best In Show, Intermediate) Westfield: John Beil (Honorable Mention, Intermediate).

Additional support for this event was provided by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Exhibits at the Freeholders Gallery are coordinated by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.

For more information about this exhibit and other programs and services related to the arts and Union County history, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth NJ 07202. Telephone: (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay users dial 711. Or send E-mail to: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to welcome The Boy Band Project to headline Union County PRIDE in the Park on Saturday, June 15 at Rahway River Park in Rahway.

Union County PRIDE in the Park is an inclusive and affirming celebration of family, equality, diversity and acceptance with a full day of free activities beginning at noon.

Boy band fanatics of all ages are invited to celebrate Pride with the talents of Broadway performing the best of 90’s boy band music.  Taking the stage at 3:00 p.m., The Boy Band Project will premiere a new single during their UC PRIDE performance. Then, join us for a special post-performance meet and greet with the artists!

“Union County PRIDE in the Park is the County’s signature event for celebrating diversity and affirming respect for all families,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is thrilled to host The Boy Band Project at UC PRIDE in the Park – one of New Jersey’s most family-friendly PRIDE events.”

There’s a moment at every event or party when a boy band song shuffles onto a play list and instantly the space is transformed into a euphoric gathering of super fans. Everyone, even the person you’d least expect, is singing and dancing along to the iconic sounds and fist bumps of this undeniable musical phenomenon. Featuring talent from Broadway – from Jersey Boys, Altar Boys, Wicked, Rock of Ages and more – The Boy Band Project is an interactive recreation that re-imagines the sound, movement, and pulse of the dynamic harmonies and vocals of NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Hanson, One Direction, Boyz II Men, and more.

Union County PRIDE in the Park includes a full schedule of entertainment and activities including PRIDE-themed arts and crafts, family lawn games, inflatable bounce houses, playground fun, and many other family activities.

Experience Rizzo’s Wildlife World with snakes, lizards and more during their kid-friendly interactive presentation at 1:00 p.m.

An Equality Rally featuring New Jersey’s own Drag Queen Harmonica Sunbeam as emcee will kick off at 2:30 p.m. with special guest speakers and performances.

Throughout the event, LGBTQ advocacy and ally organizations will be on site with information and educational materials, as well as support and networking resources.

“Pride events make a difference, and there is urgency in our community be a visible participant in events that provide a platform for inclusion and acceptance,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams, liaison to the Union County LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee. “The Freeholder Board is proud to provide a space for the LGBTQ community and our allies to stand in solidarity in the fight for equality. Join us – share your Pride and show your support as an ally at Union County PRIDE in the Park.”

Union County PRIDE in the PARK is a Clean Communities event – keep Union County litter free.

For more information about all Union County PRIDE events and activities hosted by the Freeholder Board visit ucnj.org/pride.

Union County’s Pride month events are organized by the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, and presented in partnership with WellCare Health Plans, Xfinity and Atlantic Health System.

Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, under the Department of Economic Development, was established by the Freeholder Board in 2018 and is the first and only county government office of its kind in the State of New Jersey.

The Office of LGBTQ Affairs provides a platform for leadership and collaboration to support equality, and serves as a catalyst for advocacy, awareness and action on current and emerging issues that impact the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals.

For more information about the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, contact Danni Newbury, Coordinator, at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org or visit ucnj.org/LGBTQ.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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The Union County Freeholder Board would like to remind you about what you can do when severe weather—such a tornado—may strike. Please note the following:

 

• Stay Weather-Ready: Continue to listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay updated about tornado watches and warnings.
• At Your House: If you are in a tornado warning, go to your basement, safe room, or an interior room away from windows. Don’t forget pets if time allows.
• At Your Workplace or School: Follow your tornado drill and proceed to your tornado shelter location quickly and calmly. Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
• Outside: Seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately if a tornado is approaching. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe.
• In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If you are unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your car and cover your head, or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low lying area such as a ditch or ravine.

For more information visit https://www.weather.gov/safety/tornado-during